Eighth Person Killed in Storms Across South

(WAVERLY, Va.) — An eighth person has been killed in a weather-related accident after storms battered the south of the country.

Michael Gaines Senior, 58, from Darlington, South Carolina, died after he was struck by a falling tree, Darlington County Coroner’s Office said.

He had stopped along Gilchrist Road near his home to remove storm debris from the roadway, when a tree from the side of the road fell on him, according to Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Wednesday evening in response to the state’s severe weather. Three people in the town of Waverly and one person in Appomattox County died as a result of the weather, according to Virginia State Police.

In Waverly, “a 50-year-old male, 26-year-old male and 2-year-old male were killed when their mobile home was destroyed in the storm,” Virginia State Police said in a press release. “All three were found approximately 300 yards from the mobile home. The bodies were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Norfolk for positive identification.”

Virginia State Police added that there are at least four other structures damaged within the town limits as a result of the storm. There are no reports of any missing persons.

Two other people were killed by an EF-2 tornado that ripped through an RV park in Convent, Louisiana, and one person was killed during the storm in Lamar County, Mississippi.

In Florida’s Escambia County, more than 70 homes were destroyed and more than 2,700 homes lost power, according to Gov. Rick Scott.